Directions | PJSC Uralkali

We understand that only an integrated approach will allow the Company to achieve its goals and preserve the world around us for future generations. The Company’s investments in environmental activities in 2017 increased by 80% compared to 2016 and amounted to RUB 4 020 million.

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency

Upon the results of the energy audit as of 29 December 2012, Uralkali’s Energy Saving Programme was approved, which included a system of organisational and engineering measures aimed at reduction of energy resources consumption. The programme implementation started from arranging the work of energy saving committees and the incentive system development. Investment projects with the expected completion dates in 2017–2018 were initiated.

In 2017, the main focus was on the energy saving organisational events and implementation of engineering measures of previous years was accomplished. Allocated budget for energy resources was not exceeded. Uralkali completed the work on project documentation for previously initiated projects. In 2017, the actual amount of generated electricity decreased compared to 2016 and totalled to 343 million kWh. Reduce of generation due to the scheduled overhauls of generating equipment.

Uralkali, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates incorporated in the Russian Federation, consumed 6.66% of electric energy, and 3.91% of fuel more than in 2016. Increase of energy resources consumption resulted from production volume growth.

Use of associated petroleum gas

Use of associated petroleum gas

As part of the Energy Saving Programme, the Company uses associated petroleum gas, which it purchases from oil and gas companies of the Perm Region. This approach makes it possible not only to reduce the Company’s natural gas consumption by providing economic efficiency, but also to prevent the flaring of associated gas by oil companies, thus contributing to atmosphere protection.

In 2017, the volume of associated gas used by Uralkali and its subsidiaries and affiliates in the Russian Federation totalled 151.36 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent.

Greenhouse gases emissions

Greenhouse gases emissions

Uralkali recognises that its operations are inextricably linked to energy consumption and result in greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from fertiliser production account for less than 1% of the global total.

In 2012, Uralkali joined the international Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), which is the most authoritative source of data on global climate change, and has since been providing information on its activities to reduce greenhouse gases.

In the reporting period, emissions of CO2 -equivalent gases across the Group amounted to 1.85 million tonnes. During the reporting period, the Group’s CO2-equivalent emissions amounted to 1.816 million tonnes, which is 5% higher compared to 2016 (1.733 million tonnes) due to the increase of potassium chloride production volume and the total energy consumption.

Emissions into the atmosphere

Emissions into the atmosphere

As part of the Company’s programme to expand its existing production facilities, Uralkali is upgrading its waste treatment equipment.

As a result, the operational efficiency of treatment facilities is increasing, thus reducing the Company’s environmental impact. In the reporting period, Uralkali’s pollutant emissions increased by 27%, from 5.12 thousand tonnes in 2016 to 6.51 thousand tonnes in 2017 due to increase of production volume and consumption of fuel.

All atmospheric emissions from stationary sources are within the regulated limits.

Water resources

Water resources

In 2017, the total water intake for industrial needs and utility services at Uralkali and its subsidiaries and affiliates in the Russian Federation increased by 2.0% to 18.77 million m3 from 18.39 million m3 in 2016. Increase of water consumption resulted from production volume growth. The water intake from surface sources totalled to 14.84 million m3 (excluding water intake for third parties).

The Company aims to reduce consumption of water for industrial needs and minimise the impact of wastewater disposal on the environment.

The flow rate of water in recycled and reused water supply systems at Uralkali increased to 104.310 million m3 (103.302 million m3 in 2016).

In 2017, sterlet (sturgeon) juvenile fish was raised in special conditions on the territory of Karmanovsky Rybkhoz LLC upon the Company’s order. On ecologists opinion, this type of fish shall play positive role in ecological balance of the Kama river fauna. An optimum site was chosen for releasing juvenile fish so they could adapt in the open water body. Presence of sterlet food potential in the water body, and water and air temperatures, as well as the distance which the juvenile fish was expected to overcome in the container, were taken into account. Employees of the State Research Institute of Lake and River Fisheries strictly monitored the observance of all these factors. The total number of the juvenile fish was over 87 thousand, and the total weight was around 941 kilogram.

Waste management

Waste management

In 2017, Uralkali continued to implement various activities to solve the problem of waste management, such as:

in the framework of modernization of existing and construction of new production facilities, the Company gives preference to modern technological solutions that allow increasing the percentage of extraction of a valuable component from ore, which as a result significantly reduces waste generation;

carrying out works on laying waste in the mined areas of the mines, which not only reduces the burden on the environment, but also reduces the risks of emergencies due to collapses:

continued work on the crushing of reinforced concrete on a self-propelled crushing and sorting plan.

Prevented the placement of 32 thousand tons of ferroconcrete waste at the solid waste landfill in Berezniki in 2017.

Land resources and biodiversity

Land resources and biodiversity

Uralkali pays close attention to the condition of ecosystems affected by its production activities. The Company regularly monitors water protection zones and the bank lines of small rivers, observing shrub and tree vegetation. As part of the construction of the Ust-Yayvinsky mine and the development of the Polovodovo site, background environmental conditions are monitored in connection with the impact of these activities. In 2013, there were no instances of soil pollution resulting from production activities on the territories of industrial sites or in the buffer zones of Uralkali. The results of the surveys suggest no significant damage to biodiversity in the regions where the Company operates.